Mosley plans to make a statement vs Canelo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – Former world champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley wants to show the world that he is still capable of beating elite fighters when he challenges World Boxing Council (WBC) light-middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez this Saturday in Las Vegas (Sunday in Manila).

It will be Mosley’s first foray into the ring since losing a one-sided decision bout to Filipino champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao in May 2011. He has not won a fight since 2009, when he knocked out Antonio Margarito in the ninth round.

“I’m looking to win the belt in style against a young, up-and-coming fighter and move on to bigger and better things,” he said in an interview with Boxing Scene.

“I don’t just want to win, but I want to make a statement.”

The 40-year-old Mosley will be the underdog against the younger, bigger Canelo, but he shrugs off the doubters who say he can no longer stay in the sport.

“I don’t see myself as an old warrior, but as a young killer. I don’t buy into the ’40-year-old’ thing,” Mosley said. “I’m coming to work as a killer and I’m coming to fight like I fought Margarito.”

Mosley’s performance against Margarito was spectacular, as he pulled off an upset against the Mexican. Mosley was dominant, knocking out Margarito in the ninth round en route to winning a welterweight belt.

His trainer, Naazim Richardson, believes Mosley is capable of replicating that performance because the fighter is finally healthy.

“Margarito was the last fight that he was actually healthy, where he had no injuries going in,” Richardson told Examiner. “He feels healthy in this fight.”

Richardson is convinced that Mosley will be the toughest challenge Alvarez has faced in his young career.

“Saul Alvarez still has questions we haven’t answered, and that’s where the surprises can come,” he said.

“We don’t know if the kid gets off the canvas and fights like a monster. We don’t know these things because he hasn’t been tested with anybody.”

Mosley, for his part, is hopeful that a win over Alvarez will move him closer towards rematches against previous conquerors, including Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto.

“Winning this title will put me in line for bigger fights, and hopefully I can go ahead and get the rematches. My ultimate goal is to be the best, and to keep fighting until I can’t fight anymore,” he said.